French

Course summary

This is a 2-year linear course –exams will happen in listening, speaking, reading and writing at the end of Year 13. At A Level, work continues on the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. A more in-depth study of grammatical structures is undertaken,leading to increased confidence with the language and ability to manipulate the language for your own ends. Lessons are conducted mainly in the foreign language and a variety of topic areas are covered, in much greater depth than at GCSE level. Aspects of French-speaking society:current trends • The changing nature of family (La famille en voie de changement) • The 'cyber-society' (La « cybersociété ») • The place of voluntary work (Le rôle du bénévolat) Aspects of French-speaking society:current issues • Positive features of a diverse society(Les aspects positifs d'une société diverse) • Life for the marginalised (Quelle vie pour les marginalisés ? ) • How criminals are treated (Comment on traite les criminels) Artistic culture in the French-speaking world • A culture proud of its heritage (Une culture fière de son patrimoine) • Contemporary francophone music (La musique francophone contemporaine) • Cinema: the 7th art form (Cinéma : le septième art) Aspects of political life in the Frenchspeaking world • Teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment (Les ados, le droit de vote et l'engagement politique) • Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power? (manifestations, grèves – à qui le pouvoir ? ) • Politics and immigration (La politique et l'immigration)At A Level, work continues on the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. A more in-depth study of grammatical structures is undertaken,leading to increased confidence with the language and ability to manipulate the language for your own ends. Lessons are conducted mainly in the foreign language and a variety of topic areas are covered, inmuch greater depth than at GCSE level.You will study one French book and one French film. Currently in Year 12, we’ve been studying “No et Moi”, which tells the story of Lou, a Parisian teenager. She meets a teenage girl living on the streets, No, because of her school project about homeless teenagers. Both girls have their secrets and issues – how does their friendship unfold?We also study the film Au revoir les enfants (Louis Malle - 1987) – set in a French boarding school during World War 2 and covers themes such as friendship, war, antisemitism and religion.